Long ball powers Team Titan past Team Ariya to win Goodwill Classic


CJ Caraang | SL

MANOA—Team Titan went yard five times and rapped out 12 hits to charge past Team Ariya, 10-1, to win the 17th Annual New City Nissan Goodwill Softball Classic at UH Manoa's Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Shonty Passi (Punahou), Kennadie Tsue (Iolani), Jerzie Liana (Waianae), Jewels Hanawahine (Kamehameha), and Lorraine Alo (Campbell) each hit home runs in their final game of the their high school careers.

"I knew all these girls are going to hit big, I was a bit nervous I might not show out too, but thankfully I did today," Alo said, who will be playing at Portland State.

Alo (1-for-2) and Kaiana Kong, members of Campbell's Division I state championship team are a part of another championship team nine days later on the same field.

"It feels great honestly. I knew a few of these girls on the team, we played with each other or against, but we all had good fun and I was happy about that. I tried to get to know each of these girls and to meet new people. They're all nice and funny so we got along pretty well," Alo said.

Tsue (2-for-3, three runs) reached on a fielder's choice and Liana homered to center field to get Titan on the scoreboard in the first inning.

Liana, who will be playing at Cal State Northridge, pitched five scoreless innings of one-hit ball and struck out five to pick up the win. Daynna Mekaru (Mid-Pacific) pitched two innings of relief, allowing one hit and one run.

Titan poured in four runs in the third to break open the game. Rylan Nakamura (Kaiser) drew a walk, Passi and Tsue each doubled. Hanawahine's home run to center plated Passi and Tsue for a 6-0 lead.

Passi (4-for-4, two runs) and Tsue hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth to make it, 8-0.

Hanawahine (2-for-3, two runs, three RBI) doubled and advanced to third on Kong's ground out. Alo brought her in with a two-run shot to left field.

Trendee Kahunahana (Kaiser) led off with a double to left center and stole third and scored off an error for Ariya's only run of the game.

Kiara Baba (Iolani) pitched 3 2/3 innings and was tagged for eight runs and eight hits in the loss. Karlie Espinoza (Maryknoll) pitched the rest of the way scattering four hits and striking out one.

Team Rogue pulls plug on Team Leaf to win third place

Team Rogue scored a pair of runs in the first and fifth innings to power past Team Leaf, 4-0.

Madixx Muramoto (Kalani) and Milla Fukuda (Iolani) scored off of Maka Flores' (Kapolei) double to left center in the first inning.

Taryn Irimata (Campbell), who was named the state tournament's Most Outstanding Player, pitched a complete game with 11 strike outs and allowing four hits in the win.

Rogue doubled up the score after Muramoto walked, stole second before Fukuda (2-for-3) laced up a triple to right field. Flores (2-for-3) came through to single to the left side for the final runs of the game.

Jayla Stephens (Kapolei) went 1-for-3 at the plate for Rogue.

Juliana Keanu Berinobis (Castle) went 2-for-2, and Moani Ioane (Waianae) and Aliya Hashimoto (Punahou) each went 1-for-3 at the plate for Leaf.

Jaycie Simpliciano (Maryknoll) was charged with the loss after 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and strike out two and walking one. Erica Wannomae (Mililani) pitched 2/3 innings of relief with a pair of walks.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].